Tim Norton: DEM director supposed to serve public

The infuriating lack of logic and consistency of Janet Coit, director of Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management, is consigning Rumford to a newly minted dump more than a year after the old one was shut down ("Pond View license remains

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Posted Nov. 7, 2013 @ 10:51 am

The infuriating lack of logic and consistency of Janet Coit, director of Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management, is consigning Rumford to a newly minted dump more than a year after the old one was shut down ("Pond View license remains a concern," news, Nov. 7).

John Mancini, the receiver charged with liguidating TLA Pond View's assets, is insisting that the license terminated by DEM is a permanent "asset" when Coit had clearly stated in writing that Pond View's license ceased to exist when the company was closed down on Sept. 11, 2012. Coit and DEM have the authority to terminate a license but Coit is completely cowed by any argument to the contrary, however frivolous.

In Richard Salit's article, Coit said, "I am dealing with the reality of what's in front of a judge with someone making arguments on the other side." Rumford residents living near Pond View have been forced to hire a lawyer because Coit doesn't seem to know what her role as DEM director is.That is to enforce environmental laws as written and to protect the public interest, not the corporate interest.

The consent agreement that may authorize the transferal or sale of the Pond View license contradicts the decision Coit had earlier made that the license was invalid when Pond View closed. Regarding the consent agreement, Coit said in Salit's story, "I'll only agree to one that I think protects DEM's discretion and decision making authority."